Belt buckle



HAWJZ? H; D. HOUGH BELT BUCKLE Filed May 11 1921 Patented Nov. 133, 1923..

HERBERT I). HOUGH, OF CRANSTGN, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WIGHTMAN 6a HOUGH COIEPANY, OT? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

BELT BUCKLE.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT D. Honor-1, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Granston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Belt Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention relates to an improvement in belt buckles, and has for its object to provide a buckle more-particularly adapted for use in retaining belt in adjusted position about the body of the wearer, the same being provided with a tooth or spur to enter any one of a number of holes in the belt to positively prevent the belt from slipping when in adjusted position regardless of the strain which may be exerted upon it.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved buckle.

Figure 2 is a view of the under side of my buckle. showing the spur-carrying member as folded in between the side flanges thereof.

Figure 3 is a central sectional. elevation of my improved buckle, showing the body portion as raised out of alinemcnt with the yoke member to facilitate the positioning of the belt therein.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the buckle in closed or operative position. and illustrating the belt ends in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the yoke member showing the retaining spur as formed thereon.

With reference to the drawing, 10 designates the body of a buckle. which is provided with a, front plate having two inturned side flanges 11. The top plate may be formed a little shorter than the side flanges as at 12, if desired to provide a space through which the free end of the belt may ass. p A. cross bar 18 extends across between these projecting ends of the side flanges to which the end 14 of the belt may be secured.

'Between these flanges 11 I have pivoted at 15 a strap-engaging and locking member 16. The member 16 may be made in any desired shape but which I preferably form in U- shape having two side arms 17 which are pivoted to the inner faces of the opposite flanges 11 at a point adjacent the bar 13, the side arms of this yoke extend along inside of the side flanges and are provided with a bridge or cross bar 18 near the end of the buckle body opposite to that of the bar 13. This bridge portion is provided with an inwardly-projecting tooth or spur 19. which is adapted to enter any one of the series of holes 20 in the adjustable end of the belt 21 to positively prevent the beltfrom slipping.

It will be noted that this yoke member is pivoted to the body of the buckle at a point between the spur and the cross bar, or point of attachment of the opposite end of the a belt. thereby permitting the body portion of the buckle to be raised, as illustrated in Fig ure 3, to permit the ready positioning and adjusting of the belt in the buckle. Then as strain is applied to the belt the natural tendency due to the arrangement of the pivoting yoke relative to the cross bar. is to draw the body portion inwardly or into alineinent with the yoke so that the end of the spur 19 will engage the inner surface of the front plate thereby preventing the belt from being accidentally disengaged from the spur.

In some cases it is found desirable to provide a detent or lug for retaining this yoke member in the body portion when the same is in operative position. To accomplish this in a simple and effective way I have provided indentations 22 in the side walls from the outer side inwardly to engage corresponding depressions 23 in the arms of the yoke so that when the yoke is pressed into the body portion the indentations in the side flanges of the body will engage those of the yoke arms and releasably retain the arms in position in the body.

I have shown. the spur-carrying member 16 as being in the form of a yoke but the same may be in any suitable shape to be pivoted within the body at one end, carrying a belt-engaging spur at its opposite end.

The foregoing description is directed between the ends of the plate, the distal end of said member cooperating with one end of said plate to provide separable gripping jaws to engage one end of a belt, a spur on the distalend of said member to' selectively engage in theopenings of the belt, when the jaws are opened, means atthe other end of said plate to which the other end portion mentioned means being arranged relative of the b'elt'may be attached, the pivot of said strap engaging member and said last to each other to move said gripping jaws and hold them in normally closed positions when a strain is'brought upon the belt.

2;A belt buckle comprising a plate, a strap engagingmember pivoted at one end near one end of the plate, the other ends of the plate and member being free to separate and providing cooperating'gripping aws to receive therebetween an end portion of a belt, a'spur-on the distal end of said member to'selectively engage in the openings of "the belt, whenthe jaws are opened, and a belt-engaging cross-bar carried at the end of the plate contiguous to the pivoted end I of the strap engagingmember and to which the other end'p'ortion of the belt may be attached, said pivot and cross-bar being arran ed to rovide a to le connection between the ends of the belt to move and maintain the free ends of the plate and "strap-engaging member in normally closed position. when a strain is brought upon the belt.

3. A belt buckle comprising a front plate,

= a strap-engaging member pivoted to the plate, the distalend of said member cooperating with one'end of the plate to provide l-jaws to'receive therebetween an end por- 'tion' :of a belt, means on'the" distal end of said member to s'electively'engage in open- "HlgS'Hl said ends of the belt, when the jaws are opened and means at the other end of said plate and remotefrom the pivoted end of'said member and to which the other end of the'belt-may bea ttached,"salid means and the pivoted end otsaid member being arranged relatively tothe other end of said platewhereby :the' gripping j aws are moved and held in normally closed position when a strain is brought upon the belt.

4;. A belt buckle comprising a front plate, a strap engaging member pivoted to the plate, the distal end of said member cooperating with one end of the plate to provide jaws to receive therebetween an end portion of a belt, an inwardly projecting spur on the distal end of said member to be selectively engaged in openings in said ends of the belt when said jaws areopened, means on the other end of said plate and remote from the pivoted end of said member and to which the other end portion of the belt may be attached, said means and said pivoted end of the strap engaging member being arranged relative to each other whereby the gripping jaws are moved and held in normally closed position with said spur opposingthe rear face of said plate'when strain is brought tobear.

5. A buckle for garment supporting belts comprising a front plate having inturned side flanges, said flanges extending beyond the end of the plate at one end thereof, a cross bar connecting the extremities of said extended ends of the flanges and to which a portion of the belt may be secured, a substantially U-shaped yoke member having the free ends of its arms pivoted each to opposite flangm at a point adjacent the extension of said flanges, said yoke being adapted to normally lie between said flanges, the distal end of said yoke having an inwardlyextending spur thereon adapted to engage in one of a plurality of openings in the belt.

6. A buckle for garment supporting belts comprising a front plate having inturned side flanges, said flanges extending beyond the end of the plate at one end thereof, a cross bar connecting the extremities of said extended ends of the flanges 'and to which a portion of the belt maybe secured, a substantially U-shaped yoke member having the free ends oif'its arms pivoted each to opposite flanges at a point adjacent the extension of said flanges, said yoke being adapted to normally lie between said flanges, the distal end of said'yoke having "the freeends-ofrits arms-pivoted each to opposite flanges at a point adjacent the extegral projection on their inner faces, the tension of said flanges, said yoke being arms of said yoke having corresponding adapted to normally lie between said depressions therein to releasably receive 10 flanges, the distal end of said yoke having said projections, whereby the yoke is locked 5 an inwardly extending spur thereon adaptinto position between said flanges.

ed to engage in one of a plurality of open- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. ings in the belt, said flanges having an in- HERBERT D'. HOUGH. 

